A FORMER Abingdon School pupil is cycling from Budapest to London in memory of his teacher’s son Skye Hall.

Clym Buxton got behind the cause when the five-year-old son of the school’s director of sport Andrew Hall died last August as a result of his cancer treatment.

Now the 22-year-old is raising money for Blue Skye Thinking, the charity Mr Hall set up in memory of Skye.

Mr Buxton is cycling the 2,500 kilometres from Budapest to London in July along with four friends from Oxford – Jon Durbin, Matthew Landells, Robert Noyes and Marcus Woods.

He said: “I have known Mr Hall from my time at Abingdon School, where he introduced me to cross-country running and led to my representation of the school at several national races throughout my years there.

“From this running background I rekindled my interest in cycling and started the company Bike4Charity, where each year we take on a ride for various charities close to our hearts.

“I have always wanted to thank Mr Hall for his input into my sporting interests and I can find no other fitting way to do so than to complete this cycle challenge to fundraise for his charity.”

Skye died last August after battling a brain tumour for a year, but passed away from radio-chemo neurotoxicity. It meant healthy cells in his brain and spinal cord were damaged by a regime of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Parents Andy and Sally, of Abingdon, set up the charity Blue Skye Thinking to help research into alternative cancer treatments.

Mr Buxton said: “There is no pre-planned route, we will just head out there and find our way back.

“This means that there will be no booking of hotels for us to stay in.

“We will be sleeping as and where we can – which more often than not is just by the side of the road – with all of our camping equipment strapped to the backs of our bikes.”

He added: “We will go along the Danube cycle track into south Germany and then we head north into France and Holland, before most likely catching the ferry from Amsterdam back to the UK with a day’s cycling to get us back into London.”

The team is hoping to raise at least £500 in sponsorship through the ride, which will begin on July 16.

Mr Hall, married to Sally and also dad to three-year-old Jesse, said: “It is heartwarming for me to know that as a teacher I have such a profound influence over my students’ lives, so much so that they feel inspired to support our charity.

“I wish them the best of luck for their bike ride and I am sure that they will do me proud.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Clym-Buxton1